Dance for You Magazine Issue 76 (2017)

16 DANCEforYOU magazine
„I'm at the best moment
of my life and career,
where I enjoy at its fullest
every moment I have
onstage; I go out there
as if it was the last.“
Back in the eighties, how did your classmates
at school react when they found out that you
took ballet lessons?
In those days going to ballet lessons as a boy was not
taken very well in Spain. I had a lot of trouble at school.
Other kids were pretty cruel and I even got into fights.
I would tell my friends that while they did soccer practice
with 15 other sweaty, hairy, ugly guys, I got to share the
studio with 25 beautiful girls in leotards...Nowadays, all
my friends from then wish they had followed my steps.
Joaquin De Luz in George
Balanchine’s ´Tarantella´
Photo by Paul Kolnik
Looking back to the past, when did you take
your first ballet lessons?
At 10, Víctor Ullate accepted me into his school. I found
the ballet studio soothing to my hyperactivity. I can still
remember the smell of my first studio. A mix of wood/rosin,
sweat and perfume. I was captivated. It was an amazing
experience. Victor was like a father to us. Strict no
doubt, but he taught us valuable lessons. He would demonstrate
in class and lecture us about artistry and how
to connect with the audience beyond the technique. We
all have his stamp. Also, he encouraged a healthy competitiveness
among us, so in a way, we helped each other to
improve. Then I made my debut as a dancer in his company,
and the tours and experience I gained prepared me
for what was to come. It was wonderful to travel and share
the stage with the friends I grew up with.
In 1996 you joined the Pennsylvania
Ballet, how did your adaptation to living
in the US go?
After my time with Víctor, I worked with Fernando Bujones,
an icon for every male dancer and someone that
influenced my dancing in a great manner. He suggested
that I went to New York, but I couldn’t afford it. A friend
mentioned the 2nd Nureyev ballet competition in Hungary.
Coached by Lázaro Carreño, I went and won the
gold medal. I traveled to New York with the money from
the award. While taking a class at a popular dance studio,
a woman (turned out to be one of the ballet masters at
Pennsylvania ballet) offered me a soloist contract on the
spot. The call to my mother to tell her I was moving to
the States wasn’t easy. When I did, I found it hard initially.
I missed my country, my family, friends. But as more
dreams came true, like joining ABT and moving to New
York, the homesickness was more tolerable. Currently I
enjoy both places fully.
Then you moved on to the American
Ballet Theatre where you coincided with a
successful generation of Hispanic dancers.
My ABT years were incredible. Some say those were part of
the golden years. There was a certain energy in every show,
as if we were going to witness greatness; and greatness
was achieved! There were incredible artists then. Ángel Corella,
Ethan Stiefel, Vladimir Malakov to name a few. Julio
Bocca and José Carreño (both icons that I admired) took
me under their wing. They treated me like their little brother.
They would come to my rehearsals and offered help.
It was a great experience of artistic development. >>
www.danceforyou-magazine.com